Meyer trails in tight water district race

Robert Meyer of Canyon, an incumbent of 18 years on the High Plains Underground Water Conservation District No. 1, trailed at press time by less than 1 percent in his race for re-election as a district director.

Unofficial results showed Lynn Tate, an Amarillo attorney who owns farmland in the district, and Meyer had about 50 percent of the vote with one precinct in Armstrong County yet to report. Tate had 56 more votes than Meyer.

The director seat represents the portions of Armstrong, Deaf Smith, Potter and Randall counties in the district.

Meyer, who farms in Deaf Smith County, also was waiting for the whole picture, not knowing what to expect.

“This is the first time I’ve been opposed,” he said. “I don’t have a clue. It’s a little bit of a mystery.”

The district, like others in the area, is working to control the use of underground water while not stalling the economic engine of irrigated farming. The High Plains district recorded an average water level drop of 2.56 feet over one year in its latest survey, the third-largest for the district since its 61 years of existence, according to the district’s website.

The district is attempting to address the issue and comply with state mandates through rules on how much groundwater wells can pump and how pumpers can measure their use for reporting to the district.

The new rules won’t be enforced until 2014 to allow for further study and education.

During the campaign, both candidates supported the idea of including the rest of Randall County in the district if county voters in areas outside the district approved it.